Janice Martin
Janice Kay Martin, age 77 of Cannon Beach, Oregon and Indian Wells, California, passed away February 10, 2018, after a 1 ½ year battle with cancer.
Born January 4, 1941, in Bismarck, North Dakota, Janice Kay Schlabach was raised on a farm in Driscoll, North Dakota where she lived with her parents, a brother and four older sisters. Jan graduated from Driscoll High School and then attended Bismarck Jr. College.
In 1960, Jan moved west to The Dalles, Oregon to begin a new life adventure and be near her sister Lois and family. There she met Steve Martin and they were married September 4, 1965. They traveled back to Jan’s home town of Driscoll and were married in her childhood church for the ceremony. Jan and Steve joyfully added to their family adopting a beautiful baby girl “Stephanie” in October 1971; from that day forward she was their finest treasure. Jan worked for Harvey Aluminum for many years, and in 1979 she and Steve moved to Cannon Beach, Oregon and embarked on their next life chapter and partnership in the hospitality business and real estate development.
Over the next many years, they immersed themselves in hotel remodels, new restaurants, RV parks and community involvement. Jan worked hands-on in every department of their business and was known for her incredible work ethic and rolling up her sleeves to get the job done. In 1993, Jan and Steve realized their dream endeavor as they built and opened the Stephanie Inn, which they named after their daughter Stephanie, in Cannon Beach. Today, people from all over the world come to Cannon Beach to be guests at the Stephanie Inn, and Jan warmly greeted every guest as if welcoming them into her own family home. When husband Steve passed away in 2000 after his 3-year battle with cancer, Jan carried on the business with the help and partnership of her son-in-law Ryan Snyder and her daughter Stephanie Snyder. Jan retired in 2004, but remained active with her involvement at her beloved Stephanie Inn.
Jan’s greatest joy was her two grandchildren, Stephen and Kaylee. They were her priority and gave her the most happiness as she watched them play sports or just laughing and hanging out with them.
Jan spent the summers in Cannon Beach and the winters at her home in Indian Wells, California, where she and Steve first made the desert their second home in 1986. Jan has endeared another large family of friends in the desert who loved her and loved to be around her. Jan’s graciousness and commitment to her family, friends and employees through the years has made her a most respected woman. In addition to her love of friends and family, Jan loved to dance and dance and dance and playing the piano wherever she found one. She shared her love of life with everyone she met and is remembered for her sincere caring, enthusiasm and her way of “saying it like it is!”
Jan is survived by her daughter, Stephanie Snyder, and her husband Ryan Snyder; her grandchildren, Stephen and Kaylee, her sister Barbara Ness of Houston, Texas and an abundance of nieces and nephews who all love and adore her.
Jan will be greatly missed.
Services will be held on the following dates and times:
Saturday, February 24, 2018 at 1pm
North Coast Family Fellowship
2245 North Wahanna Road – Seaside, Oregon
Reception to follow at the church
Friday, March 9, 2018 at 1pm
International Order of Odd Fellows Cemetery
13th and Cherry Heights Road – The Dalles, Oregon
Immediately followed by a reception at Sunshine Mill & Quenett Winery
901 East Second Street The Dalles, Oregon
Thursday, March 29, 2018 at 1pm
Desert Horizons Country Club, Club Room
44900 Desert Horizons Dr. Indian Wells, Ca 92210